System Bring-Up
If your switches are running NVIDIA Onyx (MLNX-OS), follow the instructions in this section.
For Cumulus Linux switches, refer to the Cumulus Linux Quick Start Guide. Cumulus Linux uses the OpenSSH package to provide SSH functionality. To securely access a Cumulus Linux switch remotely, see SSH for Remote Access.
The procedures described in this chapter assume that you have already installed and powered on the system according to the instructions in this document. The system comes with a pre-configured DHCP. If you wish to disable it, refer to Disable Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP). If a manual configuration is required, follow the instructions in the next section.
Manual Host Configuration
To perform initial configuration of the system:
Step 1. Connect a host PC to the Console RJ45 port of the system, using the supplied harness cable (DB9 to RJ45).
Make sure to connect to the Console RJ45 port, and not to the (Ethernet) MGT port. Pay attention to the icons:
Console RJ45 | 
|
Ethernet MGT |
|
Step 2. Configure a serial terminal program (for example, HyperTerminal, minicom, or Tera Term) on your host PC with the settings described in the table below. If successful, you should get the CLI prompt of the system.
Serial Terminal Program Configuration
Parameter | Setting |
Baud Rate | 115200 (or 9,600) |
Data bits | 8 |
Stop bits | 1 |
Parity | None |
Flow Control | None |
Step 3. Log in as an admin and enter admin as password. Upon first login, the NVIDIA Onyx (MLNX-OS) configuration wizard will start.
Step 4. To configure network attributes and other initial parameters to the system, follow the configuration wizard as shown in the table below.
Configuration Wizard Session
Wizard Session Display | Comments |
NVIDIA configuration wizard Do you want to use the wizard for initial configuration? yes | You must perform this configuration the first time you operate the system or after resetting the system. Type ‘y’ and then press <Enter>. |
Step 1: Hostname? [switch-1] | If you wish to accept the default hostname, press <Enter>. Otherwise, type a different hostname and press <Enter>. |
Step 2: Use DHCP on mgmt0 interface? [no] yes | Perform this step to obtain an IP address for the system. (mgmt0 is the management port of the system). If you wish the DHCP server to assign the IP address, type ‘yes’ and press <Enter>. If you type ‘no’ (no DHCP), then you will be asked whether you wish to use the ‘zeroconf’ configuration or not. If you enter ‘no’ (no Zeroconf), you must enter a static IP, and the session will continue. |
Step 3: Enable IPv6? [yes] | The management interface will be able to use IPv6 addresses. If you enter "no" (no IPv6), you will automatically be referred to Step 6. |
Step 4: Enable IPv6 auto-config (SLAAC) on mgmt0 interface? [no] | This turns on auto-configuration of the IPv6 addresses. This is unsuitable for DHCPv6. |
Step 5: Enable DHCPv6 on mgmt0 interface? [no] | To enable DHCPv6 on the MGMT0 interface. |
Step 6: Admin password (Press <Enter> to leave unchanged)? <new_password> Step 6: Confirm admin password? <new_password> | To avoid illegal access to the machine, please type a password and then press <Enter>. Then confirm the password by re-entering it. Note that password characters are not printed. |
You have entered the following information: <A summary of the configuration is now displayed.> To change an answer, enter the step number to return to or hit <enter> to save changes and exit. Choice: <Enter> Configuration changes saved. | The wizard displays a summary of your choices and then asks you to confirm the choices or to re-edit them. Either press <Enter> to save changes and exit, or enter the configuration step number that you wish to return to. Note: To re-run the configuration wizard, run the command “configuration jump-start” in Config mode. |
The table below shows an example of static IP configuration for mgmt0 interface.
Configuration Wizard Session - Static IP Configuration
NVIDIA configuration wizard
Do you want to use the wizard for initial configuration? yes
Step 1: Hostname? []
Step 2: Use DHCP on mgmt0 interface? [yes] no
Step 3: Use zeroconf on mgmt0 interface? [no]
Step 4: Primary IP address? [for example 192.168.10.4] 10.10.10.10
Mask length may not be zero if address is not zero (interface eth0)
Step 5: Netmask? [0.0.0.0] 255.255.255.0
Step 6: Default gateway? [for example 192.168.10.1] 10.10.10.255
Step 7: Primary DNS server?
Step 8: Domain name?
Step 9: Enable IPv6? [yes]
Step 10: Enable IPv6 autoconfig (SLAAC) on mgmt0 interface? [no]
Step 11: Admin password (Enter to leave unchanged)?
To change an answer, enter the step number to return to.
Otherwise hit <enter> to save changes and exit.
Choice:
Configuration changes saved.
To return to the wizard from the CLI, enter the “configuration jump-start”
command from configure mode. Launching CLI...
Step 5. Before attempting a remote (for example, SSH) connection to the system, check the mgmt0 interface configuration. Specifically, verify the existence of an IP address. To check the current mgmt0 configuration, enter the following command:
switch01 (config) # show interfaces mgmt0
Interface mgmt0 status:
Comment:
Admin up: yes
Link up: yes
DHCP running: yes
IP address: 192.168.1.100
Netmask: 255.255.255.0
IPv6 enabled: yes
Autoconf enabled: no
Autoconf route: yes
Autoconf privacy: no
DHCPv6 running: no
IPv6 addresses: 1
IPv6 address: fe80::202:c9ff:fe63:b55a/64
Speed: 1000Mb/s (auto)
Duplex: full (auto)
Interface type: ethernet
Interface source: physical
MTU: 1500
HW address: 00:02:C9:63:B5:5A
RX bytes: 968810197 TX bytes: 1172590194
RX packets: 10982099 TX packets: 10921755
RX mcast packets: 0 TX discards: 0
RX discards: 0 TX errors: 0
RX errors: 0 TX overruns: 0
RX overruns: 0 TX carrier: 0
RX frame: 0 TX collisions: 0
TX queue len: 1000
switch01 (config) #
Step 6. Check the software version embedded in your system, using the show version command. Compare this version to the latest version that can be retrieved from NVIDIA support site. For software upgrade instructions, refer to the NVIDIA Onyx (MLNX-OS) User Manual.
Disable Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP)
DHCP is used for automatic retrieval of management IP addresses.
If a user connects through SSH, runs the wizard and turns off DHCP, the connection is immediately terminated, as the management interface loses its IP address. In such a case, the serial connection should be used.
<localhost># ssh admin@<ip-address>
Mellanox Onyx (MLNX-OS) Switch Management
Password:
Mellanox Switch
Mellanox configuration wizard
Do you want to use the wizard for initial configuration?yes
Step 1: Hostname? [my-switch]
Step 2: Use DHCP on mgmt0 interface? [yes] no
<localhost>#
Remote Connection with NVIDIA Onyx (MLNX-OS)
After the network attributes are set, you can access the CLI via SSH or the WebUI via HTTP/HTTPs.
To access the CLI, perform the following steps:
Set up an Ethernet connection between the system and a local network machine using a standard RJ45 connector.
Start a remote secured shell (SSH) using the command:
ssh -l <username> <IP_address># ssh -l <username> <ip_address> Mellanox Onyx (MLNX-OS) Switch Management Password:
Log in as admin (default username is admin, password is admin).
When you get the CLI prompt, you are ready to use the system.
For additional information about NVIDIA Onyx (MLNX-OS), refer to the NVIDIA Onyx (MLNX-OS) User Manual.